Clinch staple



Patented Mar. 31, 1931 UNITED STATES FRED W. SIEGEL, F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY CLINGH STAPLE Application filed November 27,1925). iSerial No.= 410,164.

This invention relates to staples adapted to be used in conjunction with other fastening elements such as screw eyes, screws or nails, for the purpose of attaching or suspending awnings, canopies and the like.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a clinch staple having an improved means whereby to prevent the accidental or unintentional separation of the staple from a companion fastening, yet which enables the ready engagement and disengagement thereof for the intended purposes.

The nature of the invention and its distinguishing features and advantages will appear when the following specification is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 illustrates a portion of an awning and head rail of a window frame, together with one form of staple which is secured to the awning, and a screw eye driven into the head rail, the staple and screw eye being disengaged but being associated with each other for engagement.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the staple engaged with the screw eye.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the staple shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive.

Fig. 6 shows a modified form of staple applied to a portion of an awning or canopy and adapted to be used in conjunction with a screw or nail.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the staple shown in Fig. 6.

It will be apparent that in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive there is shown a portion 10 of an awning or canopy and a portion 11 of a head rail of a window frame. It is to be understood that a suitable number of staples aresecured to the upper edge of the awning, and that these staples will be engaged with fastening elements driven into the head rail of the window frame. The type of staple shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive is adapted for engagement with and disengagement from a screw 0 eye; the staple being designated 12 and the screw eye being designated'13. Thestaplel2 is produced from a single piece of spring wire which is bent upon itself to forman open loop 14, open loops 1'5, andpOinted securing members 16. The loop I4 is Of-U- shape, and the loops15 are each substantially ofU-shape. The loops 15 are arrangedopposite each other tomake it possible to slip the staple over the eyemeniber of the screw eye 13. The portions 17 of the loop 14 converge toward the loops 15 to present a restricted space 18 at the entrance of the loop 14 which is smaller than the diameter of the screw member of the screw eye 13. From the foregoing it will be apparent that the members 16 of the staple may be securely clinched in engagement with the awning 10, with the loops 14 and 15 projecting beyond the adjacent edge of the awning. The staple being thus secured to the awning may he slipped over the eye of the screw eye 13 by reason of the loops 15 as shown in Fig. 1. By a downward pull on the staple, the screw member of the screw eye 13 may be engaged in the loop 14. Due to the inherent flexibility of the portions 17 of the loop 14, said portions 17 will flex apart upon the downward pull on the staple, and said portions 17 will return to the normal relationship when the screw member of the screw eye 13 is within the loop 14. In this manner the staple 12 may be engaged with the screw eye 13, and will be prevented from unintentional disengagement there from. It will therefore be understood that the loop 14 constitutes a snap fastening means adapted to be snapped into and out of engagement with the screw eye 13, and which prevents unintentional disengagement therefrom. The staple 12 may be readily disengaged from the screw eye 13 by exerting an upward pressure on the staple, which will cause the portions 17 of the loop 14 to flex away from each other. When the eye of the screw eye 18 is in registry with the loops 15, the staple 12 may be readily slipped off.

In Figs. 6 and 7 there has been shown a modified form of staple which is adapted for use in conjunction with headed fastening elements such as a nail or screw. The staple shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is produced from a single piece of spring wire which is bent upon itself to provide a loop 20 similar to the loop 14, and pointed securing members 21 similar to the securing members 16 of the staple 12. This form of staple is engaged with the screw or nail by exerting a downward pull on the staple while disposed behind the head of the screw or nail, and may be disengaged therefrom by exerting upward pressure on the staple.

I claim:

A staple comprising a single piece of wire bent to the desired form, and provided with pointed clinching means for securing the staple formed by spaced sections of the wire, open loops formed in said sections respectively opposite each other, whereby the staple may he slipped over the head or eye of a fastening element, and a loop having a restricted passageformed by a section of the wire which connects said loops adapted to releasably retain said fastening element engaged with the staple.

' FRED W. SIEGEL. 

